LAS CRUCES — Winning the state championship is the ultimate goal for any high school coach.

Las Cruces High softball coach Alex Lopez was able to fulfill that dream along with both of his daughters last week in Albuquerque with Tayler Lopez, 21, as an assistant coach, and Samantha Lopez starting in left field as a junior for the Class 6A champion Bulldawgs.

"It's a reflection of all of the hard work and dedication and sacrifices that coaches put out there and it couldn't be more pleasing knowing that I had both of my daughters there," Alex Lopez said. "It was a great feeling on the field that afternoon knowing that my daughter had come back and was able to accomplish what my oldest daughter did and that's real rewarding for me as a parent, a coach and as a father."

Tayler Lopez, left, was on the Las Cruces High 2013 state championship team and an assistant on this year's team that was coached by her father, Alex Lopez, with her younger sister, Samantha Lopez, playing left field.(Photo11: Courtesy photo)

Lopez coached both of his daughters during club ball for Club Synergy, dedicating a decade to coaching the game to his daughters.

"He's been the only coach I have had for softball," said Samantha Lopez, who started playing the game at the age of 9. "It's pressure sometimes but it's good to always have a dad there at times. If I need help, I know that he can give me better advice than maybe a regular coach would be able to do."

Lopez took over at LCHS in 2014 following the tragic death of former Bulldawgs coach Will Garcia.

Tayler Lopez was a sophomore left fielder on a loaded Las Cruces team that went 30-1 and beat Cibola 10-0 in the 2013 Class 5A final for the first softball state championship in school history.

"He (Garcia) gave my daughter an opportunity to play on the varsity team and started her freshman year," Alex Lopez said. "Seeing (Tayler Lopez) win the state championship, I was just grateful. They were a dominant team with all of the elements of a good, well coached program."

After taking the job, there remained high expectations under Lopez at Las Cruces High with the Bulldawgs reaching the state semifinals in 2016.

"I just wanted to make sure when I took over the program, if I was to fail or succeed, I wanted to be able to implement my own coaching staff and my own program," Lopez said. "I just wanted to get an opportunity to start fresh."

Tayler Lopez graduated from LCHS in 2015 and recently completed her Associate's Degree at Dona Ana Community College. She coached the 'C' team last season and was a varsity assistant this season.

Not only was Tayler Lopez his daughter, but she added an assistant coach who had won a state title as a player to his staff.

"Last year I tried to make it a big deal and try to make them understand that this was all that they get and after it's over, it's gone," said Tayler Lopez, who also played for her father at LCHS in the 2014 and 2015 seasons. "Being able to win it with my dad and my sister hits home because it's family."

The Bulldawgs finished fourth in District 3-6A and entered the state tournament as the No. 7 seed. LCHS battled through the loser's bracket to beat top-seeded Volcano Vista twice on championship Saturday to add to the family and school trophy case.

"It was really exciting having an older sister as a coach and knowing that she has won a state championship already," said Samantha Lopez, who is entering her senior season. "Having her out there cheering me on was really nice to have."

Sports Editor Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or jgroves@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.